Class Notes - Fall 2024
1960s
William G. Kelley, BBA ’60, LLB ’63, and Carol M. Kelley, BA ’59, of Dallas established the William G. and Carol M. Kelley Accounting Scholarship for Selected Baylor Students and the William G. and Carol M. Kelley Law Scholarship for Selected Baylor Students.
Karl P. Mattlage, BBA ’63, JD ’65, and Norma Nelson Mattlage were married Nov. 17, 2023. They were classmates at Crawford High School 64 years ago. Karl is practicing law in Fort Worth and Norma is vice president of commercial development at Rattikin Title Company of Fort Worth.
M. Dewayne Andrews, BS ’66, of Edmond, OK, established the M. Dewayne Andrews Endowed Scholarship in the College of Arts & Sciences.
Sally Hill, BA ’69, of Tulsa, OK, established the Mike and Sally Hill Endowed Scholarship.
1970s
Gary Don Boyd, BA ’70, celebrated the 50th anniversary of his construction company, Boyd Inc., in April.
Thomas A. Keagy, BA ’71, and Kay Keagy, BA ’71, of Benbrook, TX, established the Kay L. and Thomas A. Keagy Endowed Scholarship Fund.
Beverly Latham Lenoir, BA ’71, was named a McMurry 100 in October 2023 during McMurry University homecoming. The award honors those who have impacted the institution over the past 100 years. During her 26-year tenure at McMurry, Lenoir consistently served her students, her university, her church and her community.
Nathan Christian, BBA ’72, MS ’73, and Margaret Christian of Austin established the Nathan E. and Margaret Christian Endowed Fund in Economics.
Michael Heiskell, BA ’72, JD ’74, and Anita Heiskell of Fort Worth established the Michael and Anita Heiskell Endowed Scholarship for Criminal Defense.
D. M. Edwards, BBA ’76, of Tyler, TX, established the Dr. D. M. Edwards Endowed Scholarship in Honor of Dean Emeritus Terry Maness and the 100th Anniversary of the School of Business.
Annette Jones, JD ’77, of Waco established the Legacy Endowed Excellence Fund.
Philip Poole, BA ’77, is the 2024 chair of the Public Relations Society of America's College of Fellows. The College is a select group of about 350 senior practitioners who are chosen for their contributions to PRSA and the public relations profession. Poole was inducted into the College in 2018. He and his wife, Shellyn, live in Spanish Fort, AL.
Bill Mearse, BBA ’78, MBA ’79, and Tanya Mearse of Houston established the Mearse Dean’s Scholars Endowed Scholarship.
Jonathan Perlman, BBA ’79, and Dana Perlman of Dallas established the Dana and Jon Perlman Student Leadership Endowed Fund in Business.
1980s
Blake Barrow, BA ’80, MA ’83, JD ’88, and Georgia Barrow of El Paso, TX, established the Hallelujah Endowed Fund in Business.
Dana Terry Fickling, BBA ’80, joined the staff of The Church Network as the director of accounting and development. The Church Network is the national professional association for church administrators. Fickling previously served 24 years as the church administrator for a congregation in the DFW area where she and her husband, Karl, BA ’80, live. Fickling can be reached at danafickling@gmail.com.
Karl Fickling, BA ’80, retired at the end of June from full-time ministry as the director of interim church services for the Baptist General Convention of Texas. He continues in his part-time role as director of the Doctor of Ministry at B. H. Carroll Theological Seminary and as an interim pastor.
David Sprouse, BS ’82, and Jeri Sprouse, BBA ’83, of Kerrville, TX, established the Dr. David and Jeri Sprouse Endowed Scholarship Fund.
Beth Haller, BA ’83, authored Disabled People Transforming Media Culture for a More Inclusive World [Taylor & Francis, 2024]. It is available for purchase as a hardback book or is free as an Open Access e-book. Haller has retired from Towson University in Maryland and is working on projects for her nonprofit, the Global Alliance for Disability in Media and Entertainment, www.gadim.org.
Julia Falkner Smith, BSEd ’83, retired after 35 years in public education. She taught in Waco ISD at Lake Air Middle School and Waco High School and spent the last 16 years teaching U.S. history and psychology/sociology at China Spring High School, where she also served eight years as the librarian. Smith now spends her time volunteering at her church, Highland Baptist of Waco, and CS Cares, a local non-profit. She and her husband, Clay, are also enjoying the opportunity to travel.
Pamela Estes, BA ’84, JD ’87, was awarded the 2024 Modern-Day Abolitionist Award for Outstanding Collaboration by the San Francisco Collaborative Against Human Trafficking. She currently serves as the human trafficking program coordinator for San Mateo County, CA.
Sarah Latimer, BBA ’84, her husband Jeff and her cat “Siggy” are about to embark on an adventure of a lifetime. They plan to do America’s Great Loop, a 6,000-mile cruise around the eastern portion of the U.S., aboard their 39’ Mainship trawler named Drift Away. Follow these Baylor Bears as they navigate the Intracoastal Waterway, Erie Canal, Great Lakes, Mississippi and Tennessee river systems and around Florida. Catch their adventure on their YouTube channel @Driftaway390.
Lawrence “Larry” Scott Marx, BME ’85, is pleased to report that his daughter Rebecca Marian Marx, who graduated valedictorian from Azle High School, was accepted as a Hankamer Scholar this fall. She plans to become a corporate accountant just like her mother, Susan, and her grandfather, Paul E. Marx, BBA ’58. She will be following in the footsteps of her great uncle, William Jerry Kolb, BBA ’54, her aunt, Melissa Marx Hatfield, BSEd ’89, and her grandmother, Marian F. Midgett Marx, BSEd ’58.
Thad Pittman, BA ’85, of Fort Worth established the Thad and Michelle Pittman Endowed Fund in Business.
Barbara M. Britton, BS ’86, authored her tenth book, Escape to Whispering Creek [Pelican Book Group, September 2024].
Stacy Perry, BA ’87, and Stan Perry, BA ’87, of Houston established the Stacy and Stan Perry First in Line Endowed Scholarship.
Dena Billington, BSE ’88, and Jon Billington of Brentwood, TN, established the Billington Student Leadership Fund in Business.
Andrea Nelson Trice, BA ’88, authored Strong Together: Building Partnerships Across Cultures in an Age of Distrust, which identifies practices that differentiate successful international development programs from the rest. Her book includes strategic insights from numerous Global South leaders that are helpful for social entrepreneurs and development leaders alike.
Michael Sandifer, BBA ’88, released his new Christian album, “Gratitude.” It will be available on all the streaming services, and physical and downloadable CDs are available at michaelsandifer.com.
Lisa Gallagher, BBA ’89, of Dallas established the Lisa Gallagher Endowed Fund for Strategic Impact to support initiatives within the Hankamer School of Business.
Richard Salamy, BA ’89, JD ’92, serves as the general counsel for the SB International Mission Board. Marlo Huber Salamy, BA ’89, recently transitioned to the role of alumni engagement coordinator for the IMB. They live in Richmond, VA. If you have previously served with the IMB, Marlo would love to hear from you at alumni@imb.org.
1990s
Melissa Clark Bacon’s, BBA ’90, debut novel, Through Her Lens [Atmosphere Press], was released on April 2. Through Her Lens is a historical fiction novel based on actual events surrounding Operation Crossbow, a top-secret intelligence investigation tasked with stopping the Nazis’ V1 flying bomb and V2 rocket program.
Christy Earl Dastoor, BA ’90, joined the University of North Texas as director of communications in the Division of Student Affairs. Dastoor and her husband Sam are proud parents of a soon-to-be first grader, Morgan.
Todd Patterson, BS ’90, and Amy Patterson of Houston established the Patterson Family Dean’s Scholarship in Engineering and Computer Science and the Todd and Amy Patterson Chair in Cyber Security.
Michael McElwain, BBA ’91, of Alexandria, VA, established the Joan E. McElwain Endowed Scholarship in memory of his mother, Joan.
Teresa Taylor Partridge, BA ’91, was honored with the 2024 University of the Incarnate Word Presidential Teaching Award for excellence in teaching and student engagement. Taylor Partridge graduated from UT-Austin with a PhD in developmental psychology in 2009 and has been a faculty member at UIW in San Antonio for 15 years. Her research interests include infant social development, social cognition, temperament and teaching of psychology. She resides in New Braunfels, TX, with her husband of 30 years, Loren Partridge. Their children are Kylie, BA ’18, and Jake.
Larry Baimbridge, BA ’92, accepted the position as chief of police for the Spring Branch ISD Police Department in June 2023 after serving 31 years with the Houston Police Department and retiring as a commander. He also serves on the Board of Youth-Reach Houston, a Christ-centered, long-term residential program for troubled teens.
James Langabeer, MBA ’92, authored a new book, Essentials of Healthcare Strategy and Performance Management [Routledge Press, June 2024], geared towards helping healthcare executives become better leaders.
Mark Smith, BBA ’92, MBA ’93, and Angela Laswell-Smith of Houston established the Cissell-Smith Endowed Fund in Hankamer School of Business.
Beth Rinard Hinga, BS ’93, MS ’95, was named vice president for academic affairs at Newberry College in South Carolina in June 2024. Hinga also authored her second book, Earth’s Natural Hazards and Disasters [Wiley and the American Geophysical Union, 2024].
Bill Houser, BBA ’93, JD ’96, and Lisa Miller, BA ’93, MA ’98, launched a new concept pet services company, Pawzpurr. Through a monthly membership model, Pawzpurr guarantees lifelong care for a pet when its owner passes away. After reconnecting in 2019, Houser and Miller married in 2020 with McLane Stadium as a backdrop, 11 attendees and five wedding crashers.
Jodi Hood-Hight, BBA ’94, has worked in real estate since 1994. In March 2024, she obtained her Texas Broker License and is a Top Producing Broker Associate at The Property Shop brokered by REAL. She and her husband, Spencer, own and run Hight Real Estate Group and help clients with buying, selling, renting and investing in real estate.
Molly McRae, BSEd ’94, and Kelly McRae of Georgetown, TX, established the Kelly and Molly McRae Family Endowed Scholarship.
Jason A. Hill, BA ’96, MA ’98, joined Holland & Knight LLP as a partner in the Houston office with the public policy and regulation practice.
Danielle Herring, BA ’98, JD ’03, was elected to the 2024 Littler board of directors. Littler is the world’s largest employment and labor law practice representing management.
Trey Ingram, BBA ’98, was appointed chief executive officer of Comp Source-Mutual Insurance Company, a leading provider of workers’ compensation coverage in Oklahoma.
Megan Streete, BA ’98, won the jury award for Best Documentary at the Dallas International Film Festival for her feature documentary, Print it Black. The documentary, which debuted on Hulu on May 24, focuses on the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, TX. It follows the journalists of the Uvalde Leader News along with their colleague Kim Rubio, who lost her daughter, Lexi, in the massacre.
Christopher Curry, BA ’99, was designated senior counsel at the Transportation Security Administration, where he advises on matters regarding information technology and government contracts and defends the agency in challenges before the Government Accountability Office. Curry is a former Air Force captain and alumnus of Baylor AFROTC. He lives in Vienna, VA, with his wife, Yu Yong, and their daughter, Annika (8).
Molly Foley Sawyer, BA ’99, of Atlanta coauthored her first book, Every Word, A Reader’s 90-Day Guide to the Bible. The book provides a 90-day, chronological reading plan with commentary on each book. A Spanish translation also is available. Learn more about the book and where to purchase at www.everyword90.com.
2000s
Timothy M. Hall, MDiv ’00, graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary with a Doctor of Ministry in Preaching and Leading. His dissertation was Adult Learning Theory and Preaching: The Barriers to Applying Adult Learning Theory.
Alison McMillon, BA ’00, was named Dallas Market Leader at global communications agency Weber Shandwick. McMillon, a 20-year veteran of the agency, leads integrated marketing and PR programs for major consumer and corporate brands. She has had the pleasure of sharing her experience with Baylor public relations students as well as lending her perspective to its PR research projects. McMillon can be reached at amcmillon@webershandwick.com.
Matthew S. Beard, BBA ’02, JD ’05, authored a legal treatise, Income Taxation of Property Acquired from a Decedent [PLI Press, 2024].
Jason Matthews, BBA ’02, was named president of Dallas Capital Bank in addition to his role as chief banking officer. He will continue to be responsible for the bank’s various lines of business, including commercial banking, commercial real estate, private banking, middle market banking, mortgage warehouse and treasury management, as well as marketing.
Christopher L. Small, BA ’04, an associate professor in the Florida State University Educational Leadership and Administration program in the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences, has received FSU’s 2024 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Service Award. The annual, university-wide award honors a faculty member, administrator or staff member for outstanding service in keeping with the longstanding commitment to Dr. King’s principles and ideals of freedom, equality, justice, liberty, individuality and respect.
Michael Bracken, BA ’05, was inducted into the Texas Institute of Letters, a distinguished honor society established in 1936 to celebrate Texas literature and recognize distinctive literary achievement.
Nicholas Creel, BBA ’05, was officially tenured and promoted to serve as an associate professor of business law at Georgia College & State University, where he also serves as director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Joey Carona, BA ’05, and Dana Carona, BS ’04, of Waco established the Carona Family Endowed Excellence Fund in Engineering and Computer Science.
Terri Easley-Giraldo, MA ’05, was the 2023 recipient of the Michael and Suzanne Osborn Community College Outstanding Educator Award given by the National Communication Association. Easley-Giraldo is chair and professor of communication studies at Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, KS.
Lauren Rich, BA ’05, received the 2023-24 McClain Award for Excellence in Teaching and was promoted to full professor at Grace College, where she also serves as chair of the Department of Humanities.
Jen McCrady, BA ’06, was awarded the Baylor University Distinguished Staff Leadership Award for her commitment to the University’s mission through exhibiting strong leadership qualities, encouraging professional development and creating a culture of excellence on her team.
Tony Samp, BA ’06, was named to Washingtonian Magazine’s 2024 list of the 500 Most Influential People in Washington, D.C. Samp is the founding director of the Senate’s AI Working Group and now lobbies for OpenAI and other leading AI organizations.
Matthew Busby, BA ’07, was appointed vice president of development and donor advising at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, TX. He will lead the DMC Foundation team as executive director of the Foundation, focusing on building philanthropic support and meaningful engagement among donors, alumni and supporters of the College.
Allyson Cates Dean, BBA ’07, married Justin Paul Dean on March 2 in Magnolia, TX. In November 2023, Dean accepted the role of human resources manager for Caterpillar, Inc. in Waco, where the couple now resides. Dean is thrilled to be back in Waco and excited to be able to cheer on her Bears every chance she gets.
Cody J. Cazares, BA ’07, is now chief of staff to former Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and a director at Rice, Hadley, Gates & Manuel LLC, an international strategic consulting firm founded by Secretary Gates, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley and Aspen Strategy Group Director Anja Manuel. Previously, Cazares served as national security advisor to the chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs and as a senior policy advisor at Space Operations Command.
Brian VanHall, MBA ’07, MHA ’07, transitioned from EVP of Ambassador Enterprises, a legacy-minded private equity investment firm in Fort Wayne, IN, to CEO of Continental Diamond Tool, a global leader in designing and manufacturing precision superabrasive products for a multitude of industries.
Craig Cunningham, BA ’08, authored One Night in a Thousand Years. The audiobook, set in Waco, is recorded by James Van Der Beek and was a finalist for an Audie Award for Young Adult Book of the Year.
Lauren A. Davis, BA ’08, authored her first book, Clara and the Constellations [Fascinate Books, Aug. 2023].
Jenne Blackburn, BA ’09, and Deb Carson, BBA ’88, spoke at Baylor of Southern California Spring Social in April. Carson, an award-winning multimedia personality best known for her nearly 16-year tenure as a network anchor and host for Fox Sports Radio, interviewed Blackburn, who recently authored the book, Always an Athlete. Blackburn also shared her personal story as a Baylor volleyball player.
Clinton Cox, BA ’09, officially became a member of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Rapid City, SD, in May 2024. Cox moved to Rapid City in February 2023 for a new opportunity in the hospitality industry after receiving his MBA from Florida International University in December 2022. Cox is enjoying life in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota and his current role as regional director of operations for Presidential Hospitality. Cox is happy to have found such a welcoming and caring church family to continue to grow in his relationship with Jesus.
Katie A. Fillmore, JD ’09, joined the law firm of Michael Best as a litigation partner.
Thomas Just, BA ’09, authored the book Combating Antisemitism in Germany and Poland: Strategies Since 1990 [Lynne Rienner Publishers, March 2024].
2010s
Sarah Roberts (Gardner) McWilliams, BSEd ’10, was named Teacher of the Year at Armstrong Elementary in Highland Park ISD. McWilliams is a special education teacher in the structured classroom.
Austin Staton, BA ’10, was appointed director of media relations at CSX, a Fortune 250 company and a leading supplier of rail-based freight transportation in North America. Staton previously worked at BP and TC Energy.
Michal Taylor, BME ’10, MM ’12, an elementary music teacher, was recognized as the Elementary Fine Arts Teacher of the Year in Frisco ISD, one of the largest school districts in the Dallas area. Taylor continues her 13th year in music education this fall.
Briana Gotham, BA ’11, brought her company Research Revealed online at ResearchRevealed.co.
Research Revealed provides superior in-depth research and consulting services to clients interested in learning more about the art objects and historical artifacts in their collections. Through informed investigation, clients may discover new avenues for connection with the community and the history in their care.
Jenny Bates, BA ’12, was commissioned as a provisional deacon in the North Texas Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church on June 3. Bates graduated from Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University in May 2024 with a Master of Arts in theology and ministry.
Jacob Mitchell Neubert, BBA ’13, of Woodway, TX, established the Neubert Family Endowed Fund for Christian Leadership in honor of his father, Mitchell Neubert.
Allison Raley, JD ’13, was named co-chair of the Arnall Golden Gregory LLP Women in Tech Affinity Group and Emerging Technologies Industry Team.
Lindsey Aldaco-Manner Blodgétt, BA ’14, received the Water Drop Award from the International Water Resources Association in Beijing for raising the profile of young professionals in the water sector and for her entrepreneurship in the field.
Jessica Bedwell, BSEd ’15, BSN ’18, graduated from Boston College with a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Anesthesia with Sigma Theta Tau distinction. She currently works at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Boston.
Tia Esther Kim, MACM ’15, was appointed academic dean of Heritage Bible College in April 2024.
Melinda Schmidt, MBA ’16, was nominated to serve on the DFW Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society Board as vice president of advocacy. As an RN, she started her own healthcare consulting firm, Clinical Solutions & Innovations. She speaks at conferences addressing social determinants of health (SDOH), improving the clinician’s experience and new roles for AI in healthcare.
Nan Tolson, BSW ’17, founded and was named director of Texas Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty (CCATDP). The third state affiliate of the national CCATDP, Texas CCATDP is a network of social and political conservatives questioning the alignment of capital punishment with conservative values.
Jeremy Larson, PhD ’18, earned tenure and was promoted to the position of associate professor at Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA, where he teaches in the humanities department and Honors College.
Josh Lee, MM ’18, has portrayed Jesus in “The Promise,” a dramatic musical production of Christ’s life and ministry, since 2019. In June, Lee was named executive director of “The Promise” and began this new role in addition to playing Jesus. “The Promise” has been running for 35 years at the beautiful outdoor Texas Amphitheater in Glen Rose, TX, drawing crowds from all over Texas and beyond.
Julia Hawes, BS ’19, earned her Doctor of Medicine from UTMB/John Sealy School of Medicine and began a four-year pathology residency at Harvard/MGH/Brigham in Boston.
Marcus Hollingsworth, BSEd ’19, married Sam Garrott on Jan. 12 at Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration, Dallas. Marcus is a secondary computer science teacher in North Texas, and Sam is a manager for Deloitte.
Sarah Beth Sheets, BSFCS ’19, and Trevor Pullen, BBA ’19, were married at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, TX, on Sept. 30, 2023.
2020s
Meagan Svacina, BBA ’23, is engaged to be married to José Pompa on Nov. 2.
Friends & Family
René and Ron Albee of Spicewood, TX, established The Albee Family Endowed Scholarship in Nursing. Their daughter, Reese Albee, is a member of the Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing Class of 2025.
The John G. Colias, MD, Endowed Athletic Scholarship for Men’s Tennis was established by Mary Colias in memory of her late husband, John G. Colias, BA ’66, MD ’70.
The Dunley Family Endowed Fund for Christian Leadership in Business was established by Alexandra and Timothy Dunley of Seattle. Their son, Nicholas Dunley, is a member of the Baylor Class of 2027.
The Hegi Family Endowment in Christian Leadership and Ethics was established in 2024 by Brian and Elisabeth Hegi of Dallas. Their son, Hunter Hegi, is a member of the Baylor Class of 2027.
The Prescott Family Endowment in Women in Leadership was established in 2024 by Kara and Jeff Prescott of Dallas. Their daughter, Madeline Prescott, is a member of the Baylor Class of 2026.
The Ashton James Willcox Endowed Scholarship in Political Science was established by Darren and Lois Willcox of Great Falls, VA, in honor of their son, Ashton James Willcox, who is a member of the Baylor Class of 2027.
The Billy and Elaine Williams Endowed Player Excellence Fund for Men’s Golf was established by Elaine M. Williams of Dallas.